‘Cervical cancer is preventable’

Women should go for screening and other preventive measures against cervical cancer, and get treatment if need be, the Head, Radiotherapy and Oncology Department, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof Remi Ajekigbe, has said.

He said: “This cervical cancer grows in the cervix because it begins from its cell lining. The cervix is the lower part of the womb. There are two types. The ectocervix is the portion of the cervix that projects into the vagina and the portio vaginalis. The endocervix is the inside of the cervix.

“Cancer is the result of the uncontrolled division of abnormal cells. Most of the cells in our body have a set lifespan; when they die new cells are produced to replace them. Abnormal cells can have two problems: one- they don’t die or two, they continue dividing. This results in an excessive accumulation of cells which eventually form a lump – a tumor. Scientists are not sure why cells become cancerous. However, there are some risk factors which are known to increase the risk of developing cervical cancer.”

The risk factors, according to the oncologist, include: “Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, a sexually-transmitted virus. There are over 100 different types of HPVs – 15 types can cause cervical cancer; probably 99 per cent of them. In addition, there are a number of types which can cause genital warts.

It is estimated that HPV types 16 and 18 cause about 70 per cent of cervical cancer cases while HPV types 6 and 11 cause 90 per cent of genital warts.

Other HPV types can cause cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) – the growth of abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix.”

He continued: “Another factor is many sexual partners becoming sexually active. Cervical cancer-causing HPV types are nearly always transmitted from sexual contact with an infected individual. Women who have had many sexual partners generally have a higher risk of becoming infected with HPV, which raises their risk of developing cervical cancer. There is also a link between becoming sexually active at a young age and a higher risk of cervical cancer. If a woman develops cervical cancer it does not mean she has had several sexual partners, or became sexually active earlier than other females. It is just a risk factor. Women who only ever had one sexual partner can develop cervical cancer. Smoking also increases the risk of developing many cancers, including cervical cancer. People with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS, or transplant recipients taking immunosuppressive medications have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer.”

He added: “Certain genetic are predisposed to developing cancer, including cervical cancer. Scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, found that women with certain gene variations appear to be protected against cervical cancer. Long-term mental stress in a woman can trigger cervical cancer. A woman who experiences a high level of stress over sustained period may be undermining her ability to fight off HPV and be at increased risk of developing cervical cancer it can cause, scientists at the Fox Chase cancer Centre has reported.

“Women who gave birth before they are 17 are more likely to get the disease compared to women who had their first baby when they were 25 or over. Women who have had at least three children in separate pregnancies are more likely to develop cervical cancer compared to women who never had children. Long-term use of the contraceptive pill slightly raises a woman’s risk.

Is Cervical cancer preventive? Yes, the don said. He said regular cervical screening would make it more likely that signs were picked up early and dealt with before cancer developed.

“Regular cervical screening would make it more likely that signs were picked up early and dealt with before cancer developed,” said the Oncologist.